Single-wire programmable MEMS microphone, programming method and system thereof

• US 9,161,112 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shanghai Sniper Microelectronics Co., Ltd., ZillTek Technology Corp.
• Original Assignee: Shanghai Sniper Microelectronics Co., Ltd., ZillTek Technology Corp.
• Inventors: Ye, Jinghua
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yu, Norman
• Application Number:
  US13/742,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20130195288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 381/111
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/08 using semiconductor devices H03K19/173 takes precedence; wherein the semiconductor devices are only diode rectifiers H03K19/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/005 using semiconductor materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/04 Microphones H04R19/01 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a single wire programmable Micro Electromechanical System (MEMS) microphone and a programming method and system thereof. The single wire programmable MEMS microphone includes an MEMS sensor and an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip connected to each other; the MEMS sensor is used for implementing acoustic-electric conversion; the ASIC chip includes an OUT interface, so that an upper computer judges, according to an output signal of the OUT interface, whether the ASIC chip is in a normal start mode or a programming mode, where if the output signal of the OUT interface is at a high level, the ASIC chip is in the normal start mode, and otherwise, the ASIC chip enters the programming mode. Through the present invention, multiplexing of the OUT interface of the MEMS microphone is implemented, and gain configuration for the OTP memory in the ASIC chip is implemented by multiplexing the OUT interface, thereby achieving calibration of the gain of the MEMS microphone product after package.

Claims

1. A single wire programmable Micro Electromechanical System (MEMS) microphone comprising:

an MEMS sensor for implementing acoustic-electric conversion;

an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip, which is connected to the MEMS sensor, the ASIC chip comprises an OUT interface;

the ASIC chip comprises a main circuit module, a one time programmable (OTP)/control circuit module, an interface circuit module, and an OTP memory, an input end of the interface circuit is connected to the OUT interface, one output end of the interface circuit is connected to the main circuit module, and other output end of the interface circuit is connected to the OTP/control circuit module, the OTP/control circuit module is connected to the OTP memory, the interface circuit is used for controlling the main circuit module and the OTP/control circuit module to work in a programmable state or a normal working state according to a voltage of the OUT interface, and the OTP/control circuit module controls the read/write of the OTP memory; and

when output signal of the OUT interface is not strongly driven into a high level, the ASIC chip is started normally, when output signal of the OUT interface is at the high level, the ASIC chip enters a programming mode.

2. The single wire programmable MEMS microphone as in claim 1, wherein the interface circuit module comprises:

a voltage comparator, connected to the OUT interface and used for comparing the voltage of the OUT interface with a reference voltage;

a first trigger, connected to an output end of the voltage comparator and used for outputting an indication signal to the main circuit module;

a second trigger, connected to the output end of the voltage comparator and used for outputting a control signal to the OTP/control circuit module; and

a power-on reset circuit, connected respectively to the first trigger and the second trigger and used for controlling initial values of the first trigger and the second trigger during power-on.

3. The single wire programmable MEMS microphone as in claim 2, wherein the first trigger is a D trigger, a D input end of the D trigger is connected to the output end of the voltage comparator, and a Q output end of the D trigger is connected to an ENB end of the main circuit module.

4. The single wire programmable MEMS microphone as in claim 2, wherein the second trigger is a D trigger, a D input end of the D trigger is connected to a power supply, a pulse input end of the D trigger is connected to the output end of the voltage comparator through an inverter, and a Q output end of the D trigger is connected to an RSTB end of the OTP/control circuit module.

5. A programming system for the single wire programmable Micro Electromechanical System (MEMS) microphone comprising:

an MEMS sensor, used for implementing acoustic-electric conversion;

an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip, which is connected to the MEMS sensor, comprising an OUT interface;

the ASIC chip comprises a main circuit module, a one time programmable (OTP)/control module, an interface circuit module, and an OTP memory, an input end of the interface circuit is connected to the OUT interface, one output end of the interface circuit is connected to the main circuit module, and other output end of the interface circuit is connected to the OTP/control circuit module, the OTP/control circuit module is connected to the OTP memory, the interface circuit is used for controlling the main circuit module and the OTP/control circuit module to work in a programmable state or a normal working state according to a voltage of the OUT interface, and the OTP/control circuit module controls the read/write of the OTP memory; and

an upper computer connected to the OUT interface and used for reading an output signal of the OUT interface, when the output signal is not strongly driven into a high level, the ASIC chip is started normally;

when the output signal is at the high level, the ASIC chip enters a programming mode, and the upper computer performs a write operation on the ASIC chip that enters the programming mode;

the upper computer comprises a two-way interface connected to the OUT interface; and

a read/write control module connected to the two-way interface, wherein the two-way interface is connected to a power supply through a first switch, the two-way interface is grounded throuqh a second switch, and a pull-up resistor is connected between the power supply and the two-way interface.

6. The programming system for the single wire programmable MEMS microphone as in claim 5, wherein the interface circuit module comprises:

a voltage comparator, connected to the OUT interface and used for comparing the voltage of the OUT interface with a reference voltage;

a first trigger, connected to an output end of the voltage comparator and used for outputting an indication signal to the main circuit module;

a second trigger, connected to the output end of the voltage comparator and used for outputting a control signal to the OTP/control circuit module; and

a power-on reset circuit, connected respectively to the first trigger and the second trigger and used for controlling initial values of the first trigger and the second trigger during power-on.

7. The programming system for the single wire programmable MEMS microphone as in claim 6, wherein the first trigger is a D trigger, a D input end of the D trigger is connected to the output end of the voltage comparator, and a Q output end of the D trigger is connected to an ENB end of the main circuit module.

8. The programming system for the single wire programmable MEMS microphone as in claim 7, wherein the second trigger is a D trigger, a D input end of the D trigger is connected to the power supply, a pulse input end of the D trigger is connected to the output end of the voltage comparator through an inverter, and a Q output end of the D trigger is connected to an RSTB end of the OTP/control circuit module.

9. A programming method for the single wire programmable Micro Electromechanical System (MEMS) microphone comprising:

step 1;

connecting an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip to an upper computer, and turning on a power supply;

step 2;

the upper computer reading an output signal of an OUT interface of the ASIC chip;

when the output signal is not strongly driven into a high level, the ASIC chip being started normally; and

when the output signal is at the high level, the ASIC chip entering a programming mode; and

step 3;

the upper computer performing a write operation on the ASIC chip that enters the programming mode;

wherein the upper computer comprises a two-wav interface connected to the OUT interface and a read/write control module connected the two-way interface;

the two-way interface is connected to the power supply through a first switch, the two-way interface grounded through a second switch, and pull-up resistor is connected between the power supply and the two-way interface;

when the first switch is turned off and the second switch is turned on, the two-wav interface weakly pulled down to a low level state;

when the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off, the two-way interface is strongly pulled up to a high level state; and

when the first switch and the second switch are both turned off,the two-way interface is weakly pulled up to a high level state.

10. The programming method for the single wire programmable MEMS microphone as in claim 9, wherein the ASIC chip further comprises a main circuit module, a one time programmable (OTP)/control circuit module, an interface circuit module, and an OTP memory;

wherein an input end of the interface circuit is connected to the OUT interface, one output end of the interface circuit is connected to the main circuit module, and the other output end of the interface circuit is connected to the OTP/control circuit module;

the OTP/control circuit module is connected to the OTP memory;

the interface circuit is used for controlling the main circuit module and the OTP/control circuit module to work in a programmable state or a normal working state according to a voltage of the OUT interface; and

the OTP/control circuit module controls the read/write of the OTP memory;

when detecting that the OUT interface is at a high level, the interface circuit outputs an indication signal to the main circuit module, to control the main circuit module to be disabled; and

when the OUT interface is continuously at the high level, the interface circuit outputs a control signal to control the OTP/control circuit module to reset; and

when the OUT interface is at a low level, the interface circuit outputs a control signal to control the OTP/control circuit module to end resetting, and outputs an indication signal to the main circuit module to control the main circuit module to be enabled.

11. The programming method for the single wire programmable MEMS microphone as in claim 10, wherein the interface circuit module comprises a voltage comparator, a first trigger, a second trigger, and a power-on reset circuit;

the voltage comparator compares the voltage of the OUT interface with a reference voltage;

the first trigger outputs an indication signal to the main circuit module according to an output level of the voltage comparator;

if the output level of the voltage comparator is high, the first trigger outputs a disabling indication signal to the main circuit module; and

if the output level of the voltage comparator is low, the first trigger outputs an enabling indication signal to the main circuit module;

the second trigger outputs a control signal to the OTP/control circuit module according to the output level of the voltage comparator;

if the output level of the voltage comparator is high, the second trigger outputs a reset signal to the OTP/control circuit module; and

if the output level of the voltage comparator is low, the second trigger outputs a reset ending signal to the OTP/control circuit module; and

the power-on reset circuit controls initial values of the first trigger and the second trigger during power-on.